Mike Courtney, 70, of Carthage, TX, passed away on Saturday morning, Jan. 22, 2022, in Carthage.  James Michael Courtney was born on Oct. 19, 1951, in Carthage to the late Claude Mitchel "C.M." and Alice Pauline Singleton Courtney.  He attended Tatum schools where he played fullback and kicker for the Tatum Eagle football team. Mike served our Country in the US Army, 1 ^st Calvary at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland and was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal.   The woods and tall trees called his name at a young age and he became a logger, spending 30 years doing what he loved most and sharing his motto: "Courtney Logging Company, We Love Your Trees." Log trucks, skidders, chain saws, hard work, a praying family and a deep love of God molded him into the man we all knew and loved. Mike was unconventional and an exceptional communicator filled with wisdom to defuse the most tense situations and bring laughter to those needing it.  He was an airplane pilot, singer/song writer and an exceptionally gifted musician that could bend the strings on a guitar and make it talk.  Mike met and married his "little Tatum Feed Store lady," Tina Hampton, in September 2006, and they resided in Carthage.  In later years, he worked in the Construction field and the Coal Mining industry.  Mike LOVED his family, $500 cars (of course there is a story about that), popcorn, Fritos and his main staple, chili.  He was a simple man that walked with God daily and we all knew it!!!   When you asked Mike how he was doing, he would reply "I don't hurt nowhere" and would frequently tell others going thru the trials of life, "Don't Look at the Situation, It's All in God's Hands" (one of his songs). Mike said you had to have the 4 F's in your life to make it work:  Friends, Family, Fun & Fellowship with your Heavenly Father.  He had all those things, he embraced life, walked the walk and talked the talk……. truly a man's man that was loved and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by brother, Billy Courtney; brother-in-law, Bill McIlwain; nephew, Eric Abel; and great-niece, Chelse Montgomery.  He is survived by his wife, Tina Hampton-Courtney; children, Brandon Courtney and wife Jordan, Luke Courtney and wife Holly and Cassi Courtney-Goolsby and husband Clay; siblings, Joe T. Winn and wife Loretta, Sharon Abel and husband Kelly, Jimmie Courtney and wife Anita, and Karen McIlwain; sister-in-law, Sally Courtney; special cousin, Karlos Courtney and wife Donna; grandchildren, Haylie, Caitlyn, Michael Ann, Madison, and Jeremiah; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends.

A memorial service with Military Honors will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jackie Harris officiating.  The service will be live streamed on Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Facebook page. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home prior to the memorial service.

In lieu of floral offerings, the family requests memorial donations be made to the family by purchasing one of Mike's CD's. There will be a sign-up sheet available at the visitation or your request may be submitted via email to tatumfeed@yahoo.com.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com .

Click on the video below to view Mr. Courtney's Memorial Service